Objective

A quest to explain institutional change that gave rise to a new economic order is complex and challenging.read more »

The Project

Any attempt to systematically study the institutional foundations and mechanisms underlying the Yangzi delta’s rise of private enterprise capitalism can neither build on isolated case studies for firms nor focus solely on distinct industrial sectors or specific production clusters.read more »

Introduction

The emergence and robust growth of a private enterprise economy in China was neither envisioned nor anticipated by its political elite. In launching economic reform in 1978, the initial motivation was to address failures of central planning within the institutional framework of state socialism.read more »

This page accompanies our research project. Here we will post occasional progress reports keeping you updated on our ongoing research project. Here we will also share observations on related projects and findings, comments on new developments, and brief discussion pieces responding to critics and reviewers and keep you posted on upcoming talks or conference appearances.